Madden Secrets Bootcamp - Day 5

Keys to Running the Compression Offense


Progression/Reading Coverages

The key to any offense is being able to read the defense by using passing progressions. Progressions are when you have a check down system that allows you to make the right throw by reading the defensive coverages. Last year we talked about reading pass coverages. The problem is that EA stepped up the coverage diguises making pre-reads a little harder than last year. Really we have been spoiled for some time now. In real football, defensive coordinators hide their coverage intent well on the field. This is to force you to make a mistake on your pre-read so they can jump your passing lane.	This is why the Compression is such a great weapon to use. It doesn't matter if it's man/zone/man w/ zone/ or man lock off. We run floods, overloads, and married routes. This way regardless of the coverage we will always have someone open. If you're being overloaded with coverage, then the pound is wide open. RJ said last year that "what stops the pass won't stop my dive!!!" This made me proud because he finally understood the basic scheme of The Compression. Pre-reads are only good for one thing. TO SEE IF WE SHOULD RUN OR PASS!!!! NOT TO READ FOR MAN OR ZONE!!!!! When you see Peyton Manning come out of the huddle he does his pre-read and he has three plays when he hits the field. Two pass and one running play.
If he reads something in the pre-read that shows an easy quick pass he audibles to that play. If he sees that there is no chance to pass, but the running lanes are sweet…he audibles to the pound.	The Colts success last year was because they have run more because everyone is playing the pass. When Edge gets off, Peyton will get easy reads for the pass. Manning is learning how to deal with the NFL version of the All Coverage scheme.

Pass Progression

When you're using pass progression you have three reads in The Compression System. You have a hot read, primary read, and a secondary read. When running 4 way floods it may change, but in general this is the progression scheme you will use.	Regardless of the coverage you will have someone open, or the run is wide open. The key here is TRUSTING YOUR READ!!!!! If you throw a pick, so what. You must trust your reads.
The second thing is that you must read the odd/even fronts on the defensive line as well as the secondary. This helps you decide on if you should run the play you have called or audible out of that play. The rule of thumb here is when you don't see anyone over an offensive player you must assume that they're blitzing or in coverage. In man you will see someone over the offensive player if they use best possible coverage. If it's man lock off you won't.	Like in the Dime DB Strike, the inside DBs never stand in front of the WR. Now many will move guys around to confuse you, but in most cases it will stick out like a sore thumb. The main key to pre-reads and pass progression is accounting for everyone before the hike. Now since we run floods/overloads it will be easier to point those defenders out. Now with the passing cone added as a new feature The Compression is needed to help with the movement of the cone. Many will place the cone on the overloaded side so that they can hit any of the players at will.
You can also do a look off. This can be done by having the cone to the backside or in the middle. Key note here is that EA allowed you some leeway. You can hit anyone with no cone in the 1st 5 yards or under. You just can't do any pass lead or precision when you do so. The no look is still there when hitting hot reads off the hike.	Your progression should go as follows: Hot read, primary, and then your secondary read. Your backside should be your 4th read. This will give you great balance with your passing attack and force the defense to respect your reads.

Reading Coverages

In most cases when you are at your 4th read look at the safeties. They will tell you if it's cover 0-4. This changes if the person playmakers his secondary or sits with a safety.	If it's cover 0 no one will be sitting deep. Everyone will be man on man.
In the screen shot above, Cover 1 has been called.	If it's cover 1 you will see the FS or someone dropping back to defend deep.
If it's cover 2 zone you will see the FS/SS split the field and the outside DBs playing the flats, or in a hook zone outside. There are some cover 2s that have purple hook slant zones. This is a decent zone coverage that takes away corner routes. Hook zones and slant hooks help with curl routes also.	Man cover 2 is the same as zone, but everyone is in man coverage.
If the defense is in cover 3 zones you have 3 dropping back deep, someone playing the middle in hook zones, and two defenders playing the flats. You have all zone.	If it's man cover 3, like cover 2 you have the same dropping back deep and man coverage all over.
You have some cover 4s where it's all zone.	Cover 4 is prevent defense. You have some sort of cover 4s where the inside WRs are manned up, and the outside is in zone. In either case you have 4 dropping back deep to prevent the deep pass.

When passing you have to learn to read off the alley defender. An alley defender is someone that is in the area of your flood/overload. If the defense is in the nickel 3-3-5 and they use the cover 1 defense, you have a flood to the strong side of their defense. In this play you have two robbers. Your alley defender would be the nickel and outside linebacker.

Once you hike the ball they will tell you where to go with the ball. If the alley defender vacates the area you must hit the WR in that gap. If they jump that area you must hit the area they left. This helps you when the defense blitzes also. Attack heat instead of running from it.

EA has some nice defenses where you think that heat is heavy on one side and you throw away from it and someone is there. Look in the filmroom, Madden Guide 2006, and Compression 101 to brush up on what these defenses look like. This will strengthen your ability to read coverages well. Remember the objective here is hitting the uncovered WR or the best match-up for you on offense.

This tip was taken from Big B's Guide to the Compression 201 - click here for more info